A foot-powered energy generation device includes a step plate that moves between an upper position and a lower position in response to the step action of a user. The device also includes an electrical generator, and a gear train that will cause a rotor of the generator to rotate in response to movement of the step plate up and down. A carriage is mechanically interconnected to the step plate and the gear train to cause the rotation of the gear train in response to the step plate motion.

Motion of a body segment is assisted when the body segment is moving in a positive power mode but not when it is moving in a negative power mode. When the motion of the body segment is cyclical, for example during walking, assistance to the body segment is switched on and off throughout the cycle to correspond to positive and negative power modes respectively. Energy used to assist the body segment may be harvested from prior motion of the body segment, either in prior cycles and/or when the body segment is moving in a negative power mode. The energy used may also be harvested from other body segments. Assisting motion of a body segment may be used to reduce the metabolic cost of locomotion, or to reduce exertion, when walking, jogging, running or sprinting.

A mechanism has four connected links to mimic the motion of a knee joint. A lower link is oriented towards the vertical. A leverage ratio between flexion of the knee and relative angular displacement of certain links in the mechanism remains fairly steady over much of the range of motion of the mechanism. The mechanism may be used to drive an energy harvesting gearbox with steadier and more efficient energy harvesting at deep flexion, as well as with quieter operation.

Aspects relate to an energy harvesting device adapted for use by an athlete while exercising. The device may utilize a mass of phase-change material to store heat energy, the stored heat energy subsequently converted into electrical energy by one or more thermoelectric generator modules. The energy harvesting device may be integrated into an item of clothing, and such that the mass of phase change material may store heat energy as the item of clothing is laundered.

A sole for footwear capable of recovering part of the energy produced during deambulation including: at least one energy harvesting means, including: a tubular body, fixed in use, having a first and a second end and a movable part slidable in the tubular body; the energy harvesting means being provided, in use, for generating electrical energy following the sliding of the movable part with respect to the tubular body that is fixed in use, during the deambulation; at least one actuator group for the energy harvesting means, including at least one fluid-dynamic circuit including: at least one first and one second tank including a fluid, the first tank being housed at a rear area of the sole and the second tank being housed at a front area of the sole; at least one first and one second joining conduit in fluid connection between the first tank and the first end of the at least one tubular body, and the second tank and the second end of the tubular body, respectively where, the first tank has a configuration in plan view which is substantially elongated and curved.

Methods and systems for sending multicast messages are disclosed. A multicast message is received to be transmitted to a plurality of access terminals at a radio access network (RAN), the received multicast message having a first format. The first format may correspond to a conventional multicast message format. The RAN determines whether the received multicast message requires special handling. If the RAN determines the received multicast message requires special handling, the radio access network converts the received multicast message from the first format into a second format. The RAN transmits the converted multicast message with the second format (e.g., a data over signaling (DOS) message) on a control channel to at least one of the plurality of access terminals. The access terminals receiving the converted multicast message interpret the message as a multicast message.

The present invention is able to extract significant amounts of energy from a user who is walking or running while remaining discreetly hidden near an area of the body where many people already carry things (e.g. wallet, smartphone, keys). The user benefits by keeping their device(s) charged for a longer period of time without the need for external batteries. In addition, the present invention encourages an active lifestyle, which has been shown to promote good health and reduce the risk of many diseases.